Newsletter of the 3 Recon Association

Newsletter of the 3rd Recon Association
Volume XVII Issue 1
http://www.3rdrecon.org/index2.htm
Presidents Message
Greetings to my Fellow Recon Marines and
Corpsmen… My fellow Vietnam Veterans. I read
an article recently that said there are less than a
million Vietnam Veterans left, but almost twice that
number who claim to be. We few band of brothers.
We know who we are, what we are, what we have
seen, and what we have done. We celebrate each
other, and all of those who were with us in-country.
Treasurer’s Report
My Brothers of the 3rd Recon Association,
I hope this finds all of you and your families in
good health. To all the former/retired Marines and
Corpsmen of the Association, I have to tell you how
proud I am of all of you who contributed to the
recent donation request, as it was a huge success. So
far over $20,000 has been added to the treasury, this
coming from over 320 members. This brings our
I am awed by the response to our fund drive this
bank balance to well over $29,000 and it came at a
past February. At last count there were over three
time when we are getting ready to honor the
hundred contributions totaling over twenty thousand students with our Medal Of Honor recipient awards
dollars received. You guys are great. Thanks!
and other programs that the Association contributes
to. This amount is minus the expenses to mail out
the donation requests including editing, return
Of all the many programs the association funds the envelopes, postage and Recon stickers. All I spoken
Harborsite is our biggest expense. We are currently with state their joy that so many have contributed so
mailing it to over 1,750 addresses we have listed on much, not only with this donation request, but all
our mailing roster. To help lower its cost we are
the time and product donations over the years.
using non-profit postal rates and are going to three
issues a year versus four, expanding the size from
This goes to show that the members want the
12 to 16 pages. Our others expenses promote the
Association to remain strong and be able to continue
history of the battalion and honor our brothers
our Harborsite mailings and other programs in the
rd
which I hope to expand to include a 3 Recon
name of 3rd Recon Association, which recently
Scholarship Fund in 2010.
included a donation to the Wounded Warriors
We are among a small group of Associations who
all served in combat. Remember your brothers in
this Association. Call or mail your Association
brother today. We are not getting any younger.
There are Company Reunions planned for this
summer. Delta Company is getting together in
Louisville. Steve Shircliff is hosting us, and I plan
on attending. I also went on Patrol with Alpha
Company. They are planning their Company
Reunion in Deluth, MN in August and plan to honor
our brothers from Team Striker. Jeff “Striker”
Savelkoul is the chair for the event.
Project and to the Navy - Marine Corps Relief
Society in honor of our Recon Brothers who
have recently passed away. Thank you Brothers as
the legacy of the 3rd Recon Battalion Vietnam will
continue to be served because of you.
I received many letters from the members with
their donations and they were very touching to me
as members were telling me how proud they are to
have been Recon Marines and Corpsmen who
served their nation when called upon to do so. We
can all hold our heads high and be proud of what we
have done and always remembering our Brothers
who made the ultimate sacrifice and our Brothers
who have left us since their service in the Republic
of Vietnam. Remember the line on the mailing
page, "Poor is the nation that has no Heroes,
Shameful is the one that having them, forgets"
Alpha Company is planning a reunion in Deadwood
concurrent with the Association Reunion in 2010.
We are posting the details on our website. I don’t
think the overlap is best, but I urge them all to
register for both events. I am looking forward to
Now that the Association has a message site, I shall
Deadwood. Hollis and his team will host us to a
be posting my treasurer report at the site for all to
great time I’m sure. It’s a lot of work, and I thank
see every month and a much deserved Thank You
Hollis and is team for taking it on.
goes to Jim Hunter for all he has done to get this up
Continued on page # 10
and running. Continued on Page # 10
After Action Patrol Reports
http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/index.htm
3Charlie 1 - Team Marble Champ
http://www.3charlie1.org/
April 2009
Reconnaissance gunnery sergeant awarded
nations third highest medal for actions in Al
Jazeera Desert, Iraq
Lance Cpl. Stefanie C. Pupkiewicz
CAMP SCHWAB, Okinawa (January 16, 2009) -There are few awards earned by United States
service members that are more prestigious and carry
more solemn honor than the Silver Star. This honor
was bestowed upon Gunnery Sgt. Robert Blanton,
the platoon sergeant of 1st Platoon, Company A, 3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion, by Lt. Gen. Richard
Zilmer, the commanding general of III Marine
Expeditionary Unit, Jan. 8, during a ceremony on
Camp Schwab.
The events that led to the award occurred Aug. 10
when Blanton's platoon was assaulted by 13
insurgents in Al Jazeera Desert, Iraq.
"Things got heated pretty quickly," said Capt. Luke
Lazzo, the platoon commander for 1st platoon.
"Blanton's element was on the scene within a couple
minutes of the start of the attack, and they
immediately became as heavily engaged as
everyone else."
Blanton was looking for ways to gain an advantage
over the insurgents, Lazzo said. "Getting his
vehicle to ram the building to create another breach
point was one way he did it," he said.
After ramming the outer wall of the building,
Blanton and Lazzo each led a team into the building
to recover a wounded Marine inside, according to
Blanton's Silver Star citation.
Continued on page # 10
“Pop A Smoke”
http://www.popasmoke.com/
The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
http://www.thewall-usa.com/
1
Khe Sanh Veterans Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/4867/
The Shufly Marine Who Fought
Muhammad Ali
Remembering
Team Flight Time
By David H. Hugel
MacArthur Foster, Charlie Company 1963
When 1st MAW helicopter squadron HMM-362
was first deployed to Soc Trang in April 1962 to
provide support to Vietnam’s Armed Forces as
part of Operation Shufly, base security was
provided by a combination of helicopter crewmen
and base support personnel. As the months
passed, it was determined that the burden of
standing guard duty adversely impacted the
effectiveness of the Marines performing their
primary mission of keeping helicopters flying and
running the base. To address this problem a
platoon of Recon Marines from the 3rd Marine
Division was assigned to assume responsibility
for base security.
MacArthur Foster, a 20 year old lance corporal
hailing from Fresno, California was one the early
members of that security detachment. Arriving at
the Da Nang Marine airbase in April 1963, then
the home of Operation Shufly, Mac fell into the
routine of providing base security, acting as an
honor guard for visiting military VIPs, securing
landing zones and other assignments in the field.
Anyone who met Mac could tell that he was in
great physical shape, but no one would have
dreamed that he would go on to a successful
career as a professional boxer and, just nine years
later, fight the legendary Muhammad Ali.
After completing his tour at Shufly, Mac Foster
returned to his 3rd Marine Division unit in
Okinawa where he polished his boxing skills and
fought his way to claim the All Marine
Heavyweight Title during the spring of
1964. Leaving the Marine Corps to pursue his
boxing career, Mac turned pro in 1966.
Continued on page # 12
40th Anniversary
by Stan Kozlowski
th
June 4, 2009, marks the 40 anniversary of the
loss of 3D3, Team “Flight Time”. Delta
Company’s Flight Time was the last full team to
be lost by the 3rd Recon Battalion during the
Vietnam War. 3D3 was my Recon Team.
Through chance and capricious fate, I had been
assigned elsewhere on that fateful morning in
early June 1969, when my comrades fought their
final battle in the Khe Sahn Valley. On that final
mission were my six Recon Brothers: LCpl.
Douglas Barnitz, Lt. Michael O’Connor, PFC
Robert Pearcy, PFC Arnold A. Skaggs, Cpl.
William Buck, Jr and Cpl. William Wellman.
Flight Time had been sent to investigate
increased NVA activity near the village of Khe
Sahn, along Route 9, in the western part of South
Vietnam’s Quang Tri Province. This strategic
route between Laos to the west and the
Vietnamese coast to the east, which had for
centuries been a primary path through the
mountains, east through the Ailao Gap, into the
populated areas of Vietnam. Days earlier, on
June 1, an A Company Recon team sighted more
than one-hundred NVA in the region, and had
been extracted after it was determined that a team
of NVA was maneuvering toward their position.
The next day Flight Time was sent to conduct
further reconnaissance in the area.
Flight Time was inserted 200 meters south of Hill
471, and within minutes the men found cooking
gear, still hot, as well as a variety of foodstuffs,
weaponry, and other items that indicated an
established NVA presence. The next day, after
settling into their harbor site, the team reported
observing five enemy soldiers. In the early hours
of June 4, Flight Time was surprised by an enemy
force of unknown size, and began receiving small
arms fire and ChiCom grenades. The team
reported an immediate KIA, one serious WIA,
and four minor WIAs. They were six for six.
Within fifteen minutes an aerial observer (AO)
reported that the battle raged within ten meters
and on all sides of the Marines. The AO fired all
of his ammunition, and scant minutes later radio
communication was lost with Flight Time.
Several hours later a reaction force team reported
that the scorched area around Hill 471 looked as
if it had been hit with a flame thrower. In
addition to small arms fire and ChiCom grenades,
Flight Time had also been subjected to RPGs,
satchel charges, and bangalore torpedoes. The
reaction team leader concluded that the condition
of the site indicated that Flight Time had also
engaged in hand-to-hand combat before
succumbing to the enemy.
US, Japan sign pact to move
Marines to Guam
TOKYO – Hoping to give new momentum to a
plan to rework the deployment of U.S. troops in
the Pacific, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton signed an agreement Tuesday with Japan
that will move 8,000 Marines off the southern
Japanese island of Okinawa to the U.S. territory
of Guam.
The framework of the transfer had already been
agreed on in 2006, but several major points
remain to be worked out, including the location
of a base to replace Okinawa's Futenma Air
Station, a major hub for the Marines there.
Officials on both sides have agreed to relocate the
operations of the base to another, less crowded
part of Okinawa, but local opposition has stalled
progress.
"This agreement reflects the commitment we
have to modernize our military posture in the
Pacific," Clinton said. "It reinforces the core of
our alliance — the mission to defend Japan
against attack and to deter any attack by all
necessary means."
Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone also
hailed the agreement. "We believe this Guam
agreement shows the strength of our alliance," he
said. "We agreed to work toward the
implementation of the 2006 pact in a manner that
does not compromise readiness or capability."
There are currently about 13,000 Marines
stationed on Okinawa, and 23,000 U.S. troops
there overall. They are part of about 50,000 U.S.
troops deployed in Japan under a post-World War
II mutual security pact.
The cost of the realignment plan has generated
intense debate in Japan.
Guam's transformation is expected to cost at least
$15 billion and put some of the U.S. military's
highest-profile assets within the fences of a vastly
improved network of bases. In the pact signed
Tuesday, Japan agreed to give Washington $2.8
billion for the transfer costs, though its
contribution is expected to go higher.
On Monday, The Asahi, a major newspaper,
reported that some of the budget will be used to
improve Naval and Air Force facilities on Guam.
The daily said that would go against the pact,
which has been interpreted to limiting Japanese
spending to Marine-related projects.
Eric Talmadge, Associated Press
Tuesday February 17, 2009
Continued on page # 5
.
Call a Recon Brother Today!
2
Saepe Expertus
Semper Fidelis
Fratres Aeterni
Outstanding Veteran Service Officers
HOUSTON, TX (January 12, 2009) Not all
Veteran Service Officers (VSO) are the same.
Some are dedicated, loyal, and determined to
make a difference for veterans. The other end of
the continuum are those VSOs who are just
collecting a paycheck.
S 546 – Retired Pay Restoration
Membership Report
The Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009
I would first of all like to thank Floyd Nagler for
sending me the battalion rosters including both
rd
st
The association supports S 546 – The Retired Pay 3 and 1 Force Companies. The rosters were
obtained
by researching the 3rd Recon Archives
Restoration Act of 2009.
at the Marine Corps Historical Center located in
the Washington Navy Yard by both George
Support S 546 - the Retired Pay Restoration Act
of 2009 Support S 546 - Retired Pay Restoration Neville and Floyd Nagler.
As a means of assisting veterans, U.S. Veteran
Act of 2009 Take Action!
Compensation Programs announced today that a
It was a long tedious joint effort by George,
VSO Directory is being developed on their web
Floyd and others between 1989 to 1990 to
Please send the following message to your
site. The VSO Directory will consist of those
compile the many thousands of names of the men
Senators. (e-mail or letter)
VSOs that have demonstrated excellence in
who served with the battalion in Vietnam. Their
helping veterans secure service-connected
efforts in compiling the names in the battalion
I strongly urge you to consider to co-sponsor S
benefits or increases to their VA pensions.
archives and contacting as many of the men listed
546, the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009,
led to the formation of our association.
submitted by Senator Harry Reid on March 3,
Additionally, all VSOs listed are nominated by
2009. If enacted S 546 would correct two wrongs
veterans who have first-hand knowledge of their
There are 16 new members to the Association
enacted with the original concurrent receipt
commitment to veterans.
with 8 coming from the rosters provided by Floyd
legislation in 2004.
Nagler.
We expect that our VSO Directory will help
First, S 546 would enfranchise those 400,000
many veterans find outstanding VSOs in their
Below are the names of new members and the
retired members of the Armed Forces with
area who will help them gain benefits, said Rance
service connected disability ratings less than 50% Company and year they served.
Jurevwicz, Marketing Coordinator for U.S.
to draw both their VA disability compensation
Veteran Compensation Programs.
Dennis E Arthur, Charlie 1969
and their military retirement pay under CRDP
John R Detmer, Echo 1968
(Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay, 10 US
Launched in March 2007, U.S. Veteran
Douglas A Burden, H&S 1969
Code Section 1414) without offset. If the
Compensation Programs researches and
disability was combat-related, these retirees were John V Cestia, Bravo/Charlie 1969
distributes compensation benefits information to
Robert A Comire, H&S 1966
previously enfranchised for CRSC (Combat
U.S. veterans. Also, they are a major conduit for
Odis Lewis, Delta 1969
Related Special Compensation, 10 USC Section
free services available to veterans.
Dee J Frost, Charlie/Alpha 1965
1413a) with the 2008 National Defense
Bernard “Bitch” Glazier, Delta 1966
Authorization Act.
Contact: Beth Ann McGruder
Jerril L Mauppin, Alpha 1963
U.S. Veteran Compensation Programs
Second, S 546 would enfranchise those 200,000 Horace L Pannell, Alpha 1966
info@veteranprograms.com
Ron W Peters, Delta 1965
members of the Armed Forces who were retired
http://www.veteranprograms.com
Alvin F Beauch, Bravo 1965
for medical disability with less than 20 years
Vet Center web page
Louis Schmeltzer, 3rd Force 1967
service under 10 US Code, Chapter 61, to draw
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/index.asp
Gary L Shupp, Delta 1966
both their VA disability compensation and their
Robert L Weinfuter, Alpha1966
Special Pension for War Veterans
earned military retirement pay under CRDP. If
Michael A Cvetnick H&S 1965
the disability was combat-related, these retirees
Semper Fi
Little-known benefit aids veterans of wars.
were enfranchised for CRSC with the 2008
Those who serve during conflict are eligible for
NDAA.
Tom Enwright
up to $19,000 a year.
Charlie Co 64/65
By Paula Burkes February 8, 2009
While not stated in the legislation, such
Membership
enfranchisement of these retirees to receive both
A little-known veteran’s benefit for long-term
their VA compensation and their earned military
care expenses is available to wartime veterans
retirement pay would be consistent with President
and their spouses. But the benefit
Obama's economic stimulation policies.
is being overlooked by thousands of families,
Contrary to what you’ve
industry observers say.
Please actively support S 546.
been told…
The Special Pension for Veterans’ Aid and
Attendance pays up to $1,644 a month, $19,736
annually, toward assisted living, nursing homes
or in-home care for veterans 65 and older who
served at least 90 days and one day during
wartime — stateside or overseas. Veterans and
their spouses can receive up to $23,396 annually
and spouses of deceased veterans, $12,681.
Lets show our support for our brothers who
are disenfranchised the way the current law
reads.
William Stussie
Red meat is not bad for you.
Fuzzy green meat is bad for
you!
The 3rd Recon Association is registered with the Federal Government, “IRS”, as a 501 ( c ) (19) war veteran’s organization.
Under provisions, 501 ( c) (19), of the code; donors can deduct contributions made to or for the use of the 3rd Recon Association.
This Newsletter is not an official source for information about the Vietnam War or the United States Marine Corps. "Neither the
United States Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized the
products, services or the activities listed in this Newsletter."
3
VA to help with medical costs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2009 - For veterans
struggling financially due to a job loss or
decreased income, the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) offers an assortment of programs
that can relieve the costs of health care or provide
care at no cost.
“With the downturn in the economy, VA
recognizes that many veterans will feel the
effects,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr.
James B. Peake. “Therefore, it is important that
eligible veterans learn of the many ways VA has
to help them afford the health care they have
earned.”
(Year total income) +$320.00
Ending Balance 12/31/08 + $1,919.39
Sincere appreciation to Lyle and Roberta Bates,
Bill Donnelly, Charles “Chuck” Suchoki,
"Gunny" Ted Williams, Leo Kelm, Thomas
Hartung, James Thomas, Irwin Rhodes, and Bill
Buhl for their generous contributions to the Delta
Company fund.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Delta
Company Fund can send donations made out to
Delta Company, 3rd Recon Association to Leo
Kelm, Delta Company Treasurer, 954 Chester
River Drive, Grasonville, MD 21638-1005".
D “Butch” Waddill, Delta Company
st
Veterans whose previous income was ruled too
high for VA health care may be able to enter the
VA system based upon a hardship if their current
year’s income is projected to fall below federal
income thresholds due to a job loss, separation
from service or some other financial setback.
Veterans determined eligible due to hardship can
avoid co-pays applied to higher-income veterans.
Qualifying veterans may be eligible for
enrollment and receive health care at no cost.
Also eligible for no-cost VA care are most
veterans who recently returned from a combat
zone. They are entitled to five years of free VA
care. The five-year “clock” begins with their
discharge from the military, not their departure
from the combat zone.
Each VA medical center across the country has
an enrollment coordinator available to provide
veterans information about these programs.
Veterans may also contact VA’s Health Benefits
Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) or
visit the VA health eligibility website at
www.va.gov/healtheligibility.
2011 Delta Company Reunion
"Wild" Bill Donnelly is currently checking out
the potential for an Alaskan Cruise for our Delta
Company 2011 Reunion. A cruise up the western
coast of Canada and Alaska is filled with the
beauty of the scenery and wildlife sightings and
the cruises are known for their great food,
entertainment and accommodations. 2011 is still
a couple of years away but it does give us the
opportunity to start saving up whether we end up
going to Alaska, Hawaii or some other
destination. Anyone interested can contact Bill by
e-mail at donnelly065@cox.net.
Delta Company 08 Treasury Report
Beginning Balance 01/01/08 + $1,762.91
Service Charge 12/29/08 - $13.52
Service Charge Refunded
3/31/08 + $ 15.00
Reunion Memorial Book Page 4/11/08 -$150.00
Donations + 305.00
(Year total expenses) -$163.52
Call a Recon Brother Today!
1 Lt. Carl William Myllymaki III
USMC Golf Tournament.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Again we will be having another Lt. Myllymaki
Golf Tournament at RICHMOND COUNTRY
CLUB, Richmond, Rhode Island on Friday, July
24th with a 1350 (1:30) start. It will be a SHOT
GUN TOURNAMENT. We will again have a
Marine Corps Color Guard present. Duo
pipers will be playing the Marine Corps Hymn.
They will also play other music upon request.
Cost to play is $125 per person.
We start off with MARINE CORPS COLOR
GUARDS with pipers playing. Introduction of
Marines present who served with Myllymaki.
Rules are presented by Pro.
Start golf. First course meal is a SAUSAGE
GRINDER, when playing, made by some good
Italian cooks. At end of tournament we have a
TEXAS BBQ and Awards. You will not go
home hungry.
Some Vets to Get Stimulus Payment
April 03, 2009… Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs
Department said Thursday it will issue a one-time
payment of $250 to qualifying veterans as part of
its stimulus spending.
Altogether, the VA said it will spend more than
$1.4 billion in stimulus money as part of
President Barack Obama's economic recovery
plan.
Some of the money will go to hire and train
1,500 temporary claims processors to help
reduce a six-month backlog in disability
claims, but a large amount will go to upgrade
veterans hospitals and cemeteries across the
country.
The $250 payments will be issued as early as
June. To be eligible, a veteran must have received
a qualifying compensation between November of
last year and January. It is estimated that $700
million will be spent on the payments.
If you receive more than one type of benefit
payment, you will receive only one payment. For
example, if you receive a Social Security benefit
and/or SSI, and you also receive a Veterans'
Compensation and Pension and/or a Railroad
Retirement benefit; you will only receive one
$250 payment.
Department of the Navy and
Marine Corps
Bill Number HR 24 111th CONGRESS
On January 6, 2009 Bill # H. R. 24 was
introduced into the House of Representatives
to redesignate the Department of the Navy as
the Department of the Navy & Marine Corps.
If you are not a golfer but would like to come
along to enjoy the BROTHERHOOD you are
The Bill’s status: 01/09/2009 Referred to the
also welcome. Larry Mullane, Echo 68 and Ed
Osborne, Charlie 68 have been in the tournament House Committee on Armed Services
in the past and plan on attending, again, this year.
Committee/Subcommittee Activity: Armed
Also, Jan Myllymaki, Echo Assoc, is attending.
Services: Referral, in Committee
Richmond Country Club 74 Sandy Pond Road
Richmond, Rhode Island 02832. Qwned and
operated by the Hendrick Family is an 18 Hole
Championship Golf Course sculpted out of a pine
forest with Bent grass greens:
www.richmondcountryclub.net
Please advise Dick Smith if you will be
attending: Dick Smith, 200 Shore Road,
Westerly, Rhode Island 02891 ph 401-596-0990
smithuri17@yahoo.com
This tournament has become quite popular so I
advise you let us know if you will be playing
ASAP.
All profits from the tournament support the Carl
William Myllymaki University of Rhode Island
Scholarship Fund.
4
Amendment(s): No amendments.
Summary: 1/6/2009--Introduced.
Redesignates the: (1) Department of the Navy
as the Department of the Navy and Marine
Corps; and (2) Secretary of the Navy as the
Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps.
Makes similar redesignations with respect to
Department Assistant Secretaries and the
General Counsel.
Original Sponsor:
Walter Jones (R-North Carolina 3rd District)
Cosponsor Total: 202
(last sponsor added 04/02/2009)
93 Democrats
109 Republicans
Edmund K. Gross, Jr., Delta 1969
passed away
peacefully on
February 4, 2009.
He was born Oct.
21, 1945 to
Edmund K. and
Murrhee Gross of
Jacksonville, FL.
Ed received his
B.S. from the
University of
Florida where he
was awarded an
athletic scholarship
and named an All-SEC baseball catcher. He was
a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and
served as an infantry and reconnaissance platoon
and company commander in the Republic of
South Vietnam 1968-69. He was awarded the
Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Combat "V," the
Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry
with Silver Star, the Vietnamese Cross for
Gallantry with Bronze Star (2), the Combat
Action Medal, the Marine Unit Citation, the
Navy Unit Citation, the Army Unit Citation and
the Vietnamese Campaign Medal with 9 Stars.
He also completed the U.S. Army's Ranger
School and Airborne School, and the U.S. Navy's
SCUBA School. Upon completing his service to
his country, Ed earned Master's and Doctor of
Education degrees at the U of F and committed
himself to education and the belief in putting
students first. During 17 years at Valencia
Community College in Orlando, he was
Executive Director of the Valencia Foundation,
District-wide V. P. of Instruction and Provost,
West Campus, and established Central Florida's
first African-American Museum. In 2007, he
retired after serving as President/CEO for several
private colleges and in his last position as
President of Tampa received the Chairman's
Award for International Academy of Design &
Technology- Leadership Excellence, the only
college president ever given this award in the
company's history. Ed served on numerous
civic/professional boards and committees
including: the Board of Trustees of Humana
Hospital, Orlando's Metropolitan Urban League,
the Mayor's Task Force on Veteran's
Employment, the Executive Council of the Boy
Scouts, and the Fla. Council of Resource
Development. He was president of Downtown
Orlando, Inc., a member of the Academic
Assembly of the College Board, a consultant to
the Natl. Science Fndtn., the USOE and Florida's
Dept. of Education, and was principal
investigator in more than 50 published books and
articles. He initiated the Fla. Academic
Improvement Trust Fund for Community
Colleges (passed into law by the state
legislature), developed the curriculum for Florida
Gulf Coast Univ., and wrote the plan to establish
Costa Rica's community college system. He is
survived by his wife of 38 years, Cynthia Hale
Gross, St. Augustine; sisters Constance Somora
(Bill) of Ponte Vedra Beach and Dianne Turner
(Lee) of Jacksonville; father- in-law Lester L.
Hale (Minnielee) of Jacksonville; sister-in-law
Kent Trickel Nobles (Carl) and brother-in- law
Larry Hale of Orlando; and many much-loved
nieces, nephews and godchildren.
Published in the Florida Times-Union on
2/6/2009
Note: The Association made a donation, in lieu
of flowers, to the Wounded Warrior Fund in Ed’s
name.
Robert Joseph “Bob” Statzer,
. Bravo Company 3rd Reconnaissance Bn 1969.
Radio operator for team Wabash Panner.
WILLIAM DOUG LEIGH - 60, of Las
Vegas, passed away Thursday, March 12, 2009.
He was born Aug. 2, 1948, in Cedar City, Utah,
and was a 40-year resident of Nevada. Doug had
been married to Cyndie for 33 years. He worked
as a Local 159 union painter for over 20 years,
and was currently employed at the Paris Hotel
since its opening. He was also the shop steward.
Doug served in U.S. Marine Corps during the
Vietnam War, and was a member of the 3rd
Recon Battalion, Bravo Company. He attended
all reunions with his brothers. He was also a
member of the Marine Corps League and of the
Marine Riders of Las Vegas. Doug loved his
Marine heritage and riding his Harley. He was
respected by all of his Marine brothers and his
many friends and co-workers. He is survived by
his loving wife, Cyndie; his two children who
loved and respected him, Lisa and Billy; his
father, Wild Bill Leigh; his brother, Jim; his sister
and Pat. Doug was taken too soon. He was not
finished with life.
Flight Time – Continued from page # 2
Robert J. Statzer, 59, passed away Tuesday,
November 25, 2008 in Pendleton, Indiana.
Robert worked for the Indiana Department of
Corrections, at the Pendleton Prison Facility as an
electrician. He had previously worked for P. W.
Gollmer for 23 years and Dodd Electric for 12
years. He graduated in 1967 from Fishers High
School.
Now, four decades later, we still remember,
sometimes daily, our fallen brothers of “Flight
Time”. Individually, and collectively through our
Recon Association, we remember and honor
these men. We reflect on their heroism, on their
courage and on their loss and ultimate sacrifice.
We remember… Billy Buck, Douglas Barnitz,
Michael O’Connor, Robert Pearcy, Arnold
Skaggs, and William Wellman.
Gifted scribes help us with the details of memory,
among them Larry Vetter (Never Without
Heroes) and Chaplain Ray William Stubbe
(Battalion of Kings). We remember and honor
these heroes through our Association, through the
Robert served in Vietnam with the U. S. Marine
Memorial Park in Ocala, Fl., where the names of
Corps. He was an avid fisherman and hunter; a
the men of Team Flight Time are each engraved
member of Elwood Conservation Club and NRA. on separate memorial stones.
He loved the outdoors and participated in
Rendezous. He also had a passion for building
3D3 was my team. I had been pulled three days
computers.
before Flight Time’s final mission, in order to
attend Recondo School in Na Trang. After I
returned to the company area, and walked down
He is survived by his wife, Melody (Heffner)
Statzer of Cicero; both his parents, a daughter, 7 that street, and saw that empty hooch … it left a
unforgettable image that still lives with me. For
sons, 2 brothers, 3 sisters and seven
many years I was haunted by their deaths. For
grandchildren.
years I thought that Doc McManus, who was
down from food poisoning and myself, who
He is preceded in death one grandchild, Kyle
hadn’t been assigned to serve with Flight Time
Thomas Powell.
that fateful day were the only men who had daily
memories of our brothers lost that day. I thought
“Do not stand at my grave and weep;
Doc and I were alone in our grief, until I started
I am not there. I do not sleep.
attending Recon reunions where I was awakened
to the fact that many other members of Delta
I am a thousand winds that blow.
Company had their own memories of the men of
I am the diamond glints on snow.
Flight Time.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.”
5
As we all reflect on the loss of our Recon
brothers and the sacrifice of the men of Flight
Time, let us take heart in our remembering. For
as Chaplain Stubbe wrote so eloquently in his
account of the battlefield of Khe Sanh, “It was
here that so many were buried forever in us and
live in us as long as we live.”
Semper Fidelis!, Stan
Col Edward V Badolato USMC (Ret)
Alpha Company 1965
Ed Badolato, one of the
truly inspirational
figures in the homeland
security community,
passed away on October
30, 2008
A Towson University
Alumnus, Col Badolato
served in the U.S.
Marine Corps, retired at
the rank of colonel, did three combat tours in
Vietnam as well as tours as military attaché in
Beirut, Lebanon; Damascus, Syrian; and Nicosia,
Cyprus, and served around the world in more
than a dozen countries. During the 1965 beach
landings in Vietnam, Ed served as the
Commanding Officer of Alpha Company 3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion.
Ed was an expert in cargo security and served
four years as chairman of the National Cargo
Security Council, and as the White Houseappointed chairman of a Federal Aviation
Administration air cargo security working group.
He offered his time, his talents and his enormous
experience to a wide range of organizations,
including the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy,
the American Society of Industrial Security, the
National Defense Industry Association and the
Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He
served under former Presidents Reagan and Bush
as the deputy assistant secretary of the
Department of Energy, where he specialized in
counter-terrorism and emergency planning.
Henry C “Clay” Yarber
Bravo Company 1967
YARBER, Clay Cpl.
USMC, Ret. Vietnam
War veteran of
Riverside, CA and
formerly of St.
Petersburg, died on
Feb. 12, 2009, in
Clarence, NY as a
result of being a
passenger on a
Continental Airlines Flight 3407. He was a
United States Marine Corps Veteran that served
in Vietnam and was awarded two Purple Hearts,
a Bronze Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry,
Vietnam Service Medal and a Presidential Unit
Citation and he served in the 3rd Force-3rd
Division Recon. Preceded in death by his father
and a brother, Cpl. Yarber is survived by his
loving family; two sons; 4 daughters; a mother;
brother; sister; numerous grandchildren and
great-grandchildren; and his loving and extended
family. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, to
please make donations to the Injured Marine
"Semper Fi" Fund (IMSFF), 825 College Blvd.,
Suite 102 PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 in the
memory of Cpl. Clay Yarber.
An Early History
3rd Recon in Viet Nam
by: Neil Grissom,
Charlie Company 1963
In April 1963 47 Company C Marines from the
3rd Reconnaissance Battalion were sent to Viet
Nam to guard the Da Nang Airbase. The platoon
was also assigned as the first “Chicken Hawk” or
“Eagle” fast-reaction-force utilized in Viet Nam
as part of operation Shufly.
Cong could be heard attempting to get down a
hillside through heavy brush searching for the
crash site, a small island in a river. The injured
men and team were successfully evacuated before
the Viet Cong reached them. The pilot of the
rescue helicopter, Capt. Theodore A. Heister, was
subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross for the mission. Platoon members,
Edwards and Carter, were recommended for the
Bronze Stars with Combat “V”.
Marines from the platoon were also utilized to
“strap-hang” (serve as extra crew members) on
The platoon was comprised of riflemen, a small
UH-34Ds to provide additional security, and
group of demolition experts and a couple of
assist in the delivery of supplies and ammunition
radiomen. Two squads from the platoon were
to outpost and camps which were being operated
required to be on duty at all times to provide
by U. S. Army Special Forces, CIA paramilitary
security for Da Nang Airbase. During hours of
and RVN government forces. During those redarkness, fire teams were assigned to patrol the
supply missions the helicopters would frequently
perimeter of the living compound and the area
come under enemy fire, many times, at extremely
composed of the Da Nang Airbase. A Marine
close range. It was nothing unusual for an UHfrom the platoon was additionally assigned, along
34D to return to Da Nang from a re-supply
with several ARVN soldiers, to guard the back
mission with several bullet holes in it.
gate of the airbase at night, which was used by
vehicle traffic. If threat levels were high, the
Platoon members were also given the chance to
platoon would be placed on full alert status. The
interact with U.S. Army Special Forces. They
platoon was informed that if the Da Nang Airbase
visited various U.S. Army Special Forces camps
had to be evacuated, it would be their duty to
to see first hand how they operated. During one
hold the base it until all major assets could be
visit to a newly opened U.S. Army Special Forces
redeployed to other locations.
camp at Cheo Reo (II Corps), Viet Cong
attempted to ambush a squad from the platoon by
Another duty assigned to Recon Marines in the
cutting a tree down to block a road leading to the
security detachment involved its one specialty of
LZ where they were to be picked-up and taken
“rappelling” out of helicopters into inaccessible
back to Da Nang. Platoon members and Army
areas to set up make-shift landing zones. On
Special Forces personnel withdrew to the camp
occasions, members of the platoon were required
and returned to the LZ later that day without
to spend several days on government outposts
further incident.
helping Vietnamese troops clear fields of fire
with explosives.
In mid August, after a three-week offensive by
battalions of the 2nd ARVN Division against
During troops lifts flown by the Da Nang based
Communist infiltration routes along the Laotian
Marine Helicopter squadrons in support of the
border, a decision was made to heli-lift some
Vietnamese government counter-insurgency
1,300 ARNV troops from that area, along with
operations, platoon members would stand-by at a
their artillery and equipment to Thoung Due a
“staging area”, or, be inserted into the landing
government town 30 miles southwest of Da
zone if things got hairy on the ground. On one
Nang. Although not completely encircled,
occasion, in late April 1963, during a heli-lift of
ARVN forces had come under a great deal of
nd
members of the 2 ARNV Division, a helicopter
pressure by the Viet Cong and it was feared they
was shot down about 35 miles southwest of Da
might be cutoff from the few landing zones in
Nang. The crew and passengers were
that area. The fast- reaction platoon was flown to
immediately picked-up and the helicopter was
a landing zone code named ZULU about 5 miles
stripped of all usable parts. A squad from the
from the Laotian border to provide security for
platoon, which included demolition experts, was
crews from the Da Nang based Helicopter
rushed to the area to burn the hulk of the crashed
Squadron HMM 261 that were going to heli-lift
helicopter so it couldn’t be used by the Viet
about 200 ARVN troops and two 105mm
Cong.
howitzers from that landing zone. The heli-lift
from another nearby LZ went off as planned.
On another occasion, August 1, 1963, a small
However, LZ ZULU was completely encircled by
plane with an Air Force pilot and his Vietnamese
a rim of hills. When the troop lift was almost
observer went down in mountainous terrain 28
complete and the 105mm howitzers were being
miles south of Da Nang. There was a Viet Cong
pulled out, the UH-34Ds started to draw fire from
position approximately 200 yards from the crash
the nearby ridgeline. As the platoon was leaving
scene. Two members of the platoon’s fast
LZ ZULU following the heli-lift of the ARVN
reaction force (Edwards and Carter) and a Navy
personnel and equipment, attack aircraft began
Corpsman were lowered into the crash site. After
bombing and strafing the positions where the
pulling the seriously injured men from the
enemy fire came from.
wreckage, Edwards and Carter stood guard while
the Navy Corpsman administered emergency aid.
Continued on page # 14
While the group waited to be extracted, Viet
6
Donations
The Executive Committee would like to thank all who sent in donations to support the Association’s many activities: The 4 Medal of honor programs, the
gifts shipped to the current battalion, the “Harborsite” Newsletters and other expenses/programs. With the influx of cash we are in a good position to
continue to serve our membership and continue all our programs that honor our brothers and promote the history of the battalion.
The association has started a new program: every year on November 10th the association will present a $300.00 donation to the Navy Marine Corps Relief
Society to honor our brothers who have died, or we were notified of their passing, during the previous year.
Below are listed those who showed their support of the association’s many programs with cash donations totaling over $20,000.00**
Should a member have an idea for a program that would promote the history of the battalion and/or preserve the memory of our brothers, we would like to
hear from you with your idea.
** As of April 26, 2009
William A . Stussie, President
Abelson, Thomas
Adermann, Robert
Adler, James M (?)
Alexander, William
Allen, M. C.
Allen, Michael
Allen, Patrick
Altizer, C. R.
Amancio, Peter
Ambrosius, Ervin (2)
Amos, Richard
Andrews, Warren
Arena, John
Armet, Ronald
Armstrong, James M
Baker, Fred
Baker, Wheeler
Banek, Robert
Barnard, Rob
Barnes, James M
Bates, Lyle
Beasock, Ken
Benzaleski, Patrick
Bevins, Frank
Bishop, Donald
Blair, Donald W
Blankenship, Keith
Blakewood, Steven
Bohnert, Larry
Boyd, William D
Bradley, Wayne
Brantly, Jack L
Brewer, Glen
Brine, David
Brown, Charles
Brown, John W
Bryant, Richard
Bubert, Charles
Buhl, Bill
Burden, Douglas
Burden, Terrie &
Colleen
Butcher, Franklin
Byrd, Marvin
Campbell, David
Carnicle, Gary
Carter, James M
Caruso, David
Caviness, Gary
Cestia, John (2)
Churchill, James
Cibik, Robert D
Cimino, Peter
Clark, Charles
Colassard, Barry
Cooke, E. R.
Cope, Kenneth
Copson, Dennis
Cordova, Roberto
Cormwell, James
Cote, Bobby
Cothran, Terry
Cotton, Glyn
Coughlan, James
Crabb, Robert E
Crapser, William
Crawford, John
Cromwell, Lawrence
Cunningham, Leon
Cvetnich, Michael A
Darby, Reuben
Darsow, Richard
Davey, James
Davies, George
Davis, Ted
DeCarlo, John
Dedekian, Malcolm
Deer, J. S.
Delaughter, Michael
Diaz, Nicholas
Dillon, George
Ditterline, Bill
Dowdy III, John
Frank Doyle, Dudley
Dusenbury, James
Eckstrom, Calvin
Edwards, Jr, Larry
Effinger, William
Eckhardt, David
Enwright, Tom
Erck, Richard
Farley, Larry D
Farmer, Frank
Feeney, John
Fergon, Rodney
Fitzbag, Robert Carl
Flathers, James (2)
Fleming, Robert
Folia, Rod
Fontane, Rudy
Ford, James A
Fulcrod, William
Fung, Vincent
Gaddis, Tommy
Garcia, William
Gardner Jr, Joel R
Gaugler, Lee
Gilbert, Thomas
Glaenzer, George
Glanton, David
Goewey, V. L.
Goolden, David
Gorecki, John
Graham, Susan
Granberg, Mike (2)
Graves, Jr, Vincent
Grimm, James
Grissom, Neil
Guy, J. R.
Halfmann, Wayne
Hall, Bobby D
Hamilton, Jesse R
Hansen, Conrad
Harper, Dwight
Haskell, Frank
Haux, Eugene
Heath, R Doug
Heilner, Michael
Hermanson, Rodney
Hoffman, Ronald
Holmes, Charles
Hoover, Sr, Ronald
Hopkins, John
Horan, J. Michael
Horn, David E
Horne, D. H.
Hudson, Wade
Hunter, Bobby
Hunter, Eugene
Hutton, J. L.
Hymer, Albert
Jablonicky, Thomas
Jackson, John
Jackson, Joseph
Jepson, Mogens
Johnson, Charles A
Johnson, Michael
Johnson, Steven
Jones, Robert
Jones, Thomas
Jordan, Kenneth
Kelm, Charles
Kemp, Sr, Frank
Kenck, Harry
Kent, William
Kerlin, Raymond
Kern, Louis T
Kihlstrom, Albert G
King,, Jr, George R
Koebig, Jr, M. A.
Koeppen, Thomas
Knight, Reginald
Knight, William
Knowles, Robert
Kozlowski, Stan
Krall, Robert
Laktash, Stephen
LaFond, James
Lamb, Gregg
Lancaster, Alson
Larson, Bruce L
Lawson, Stanley
Lehmann, R. L.
Lentz, John R
Lewis, Sr, Odis
Loving, J. W.
Loew, Sr, William
Lowe, Dennis
Lunger, R. Brent
Lynch, Thomas
MacAulay, Kevin
Magnuson, Joel
Manley, Dale
Mars, Richard
Marshall, Tommy
Maschek, Jr, Joseph
Mattis, John
McAuley Jr, Robert
McBee, Chris
McCracken, Terry
McCormick, Alan L
McCullough, Larry
McDonald, Stanley
McWilliams, Steve
Medvecky, John
Merchant, Jr, Hercel
Merrihew, Gordon
Merrill, Warren
Messner, William
Mezias, Michael
Miller, Edwin D
Miller, William S
Moles, Thomas
Morrow, Danny
Mott, James L
Muldowney, James
Murphy, John
Nagler, Floyd
Nehila, Randy
O’Leary, Raymond
Oppenheimer, Bob
Ortman, Lynn
Osborne, Richard
Ostiguy, Nelson
Otto, David
Owens, Loren
Pagano, Robert
Papendieck, Steven
Parker, Brian
Paull, Jerome T
7
Perez, Benigno
Perry, Alexis
Person, Peter
Pettit, Kent
Phelps, Douglas R
Plasczynski, Richard
Plopper, Dennis
Pogue, Mike
Posey, Norman
Poyner, Roy
Quirk, James
Rapuano, Leonard A
Reaver, Gerald T
Reed, W Creighton
Renard, Tom
Rehm, Mike
Ridinger, Ronald
Ritter, Michael
Rocha, Juan
Rodriguez, Ramon
Rogers, Harry
Rudd, Charles
Ryan, Joseph
Sabins, James
Salyerds, Alan (2)
Sandoz, James
Sarber, Daniel
Sarnoski, Henry
Sawicki, Peter
Sawyer, Bob
Scheiler, Daniel
Schloesser, Louis
Schneider, Darlene
Schoolfield, Charles
Schultz, Henry
Schwartz, T. P.
Scrofano, Charles A
Seay, Olen
Seeley, Jr, Benton
Sheehan, John
Shockley, J. G.
Shupp, Gary
Siems, Robert
Siler, Jerry
Simmons, Linwood
Skiles, Robert
Smith, James M
Smyl, Edward
Specht, Wayne
Spivey, Jr, B Larkin
Stahn, Dennis
Statzer, Michael
Steinman, Harry (2)
Steuer, Harold
Stewart, Stephen
Stokes, Steven
Strehle, Heinz
Striegel, Randell
Stringer, William
Stussie, William A
Suchocki, Charles
Sustaita, Manuel
Sutherland, R. R.
Sweeney, Michael J
Symon, Phillip
Tambunga, Martin
Tarney, Margaret
Tharp, Robert
Thomas, Alfred M
Thomas, James E
Thompson, Robert
Thorsen, Jr, Arthur
Thornson, Bruce
Tobin, Paul
Toffry, William III
Traceski, Richard
Turay, Robert
Turley, Jerry
Turner, Richard
Upshaw, Leland
Valerio, Lawrence
Vansetters, Arthur
Vaughan, Charles
Vennemeyer, Tom
VVA Colorado St
Waddill, Butch
Wade, Lloyd
Walker, Gregory
Watkins, Stephen
Webster, Robert E
Webster, Timothy
Weidrich, William
White, Robert Lee
Whitlock, Paul
Widener, Peter
Wilhem, John
Wilkins, Charles
Williams, James L
Williams, Robert
Williams, Rodney
Williams, Theodore
Winters, John
Wolfgram, John
Wolff, Steven A
Wood, Barry
Wright, James S
Yee, Jeff
Yurek, Michael F
Zink, Sr, Robert
unknown name
3rd Recon Battalion Association PX
2942 Walnut Rd Sarepta, LA 71071-2434, Marshall Johnson, Manager
An order is made up of all items ordered at a time... from one pin to a number of items. The S&H covers each mailing, not each item.
We cannot take credit cards. Please send check or money order payable to: 3rd Recon Association. All orders must have a minimum of $5.00
shipping, (Except where noted) and handling in addition to the payment for the merchandise. On orders of more than one item, the shipping for each
additional item is the amount for the first item. For example, the first T-shirt P&H is $4.50; for each additional T-shirt, it is $2.00 thereafter. Two
T-shirts will cost $6.50 S&H; three t-shirts $8.50, and so forth.
Contact: frankmarshalljohnson@yahoo.com
3rd Recon RVN Service
or phone
Plated Buckle
318-994-2660 central time
Silver,
Gold and Red Color
Checks made out to:
3rd Recon Association
Highlights. 5. 5 oz. (3. 5” X 2.75” )
Mailed to:
solid brass. Great detail.
F. Marshall Johnson
2942 Walnut Rd Sarepta, LA
71071-2423
$56.00
TYPHOON LIGHTERS
Fine Brushed Chrome
3rd Recon Lighters with full color unit emblem
Only $19.95
3rd Recon RVN Service
un-Plated Buckle
5. 5 oz. (3. 5” X 2.75” ) solid brass.
Great detail.
$31.00
3rd Recon Black Hat.
One size fits all
$15.00
3rd Recon Coin Key
Chains $7.00
Large 10” dia. (Full Color) 3rd Recon Patch
Or 10” dia. RVN Service Patch (Full Color)
Suitable for back of a Jacket, Wind-breaker
or Framing. Great detail
$16.00plus $2.00 S&H
Interior and Exterior Bumper & Window Decals AND Stickers “Full Color”
_____ 3rd Recon 4”X4” exterior window/bumper decals at $2.00 =
at $2.00 =
_____ 3rd Recon 3”X9” RVN service bumper stickers
at $5.00 =
_____ 3rd Recon 3”X9” and/ or 4”X4” set(s) of three
Total Shipping and handling =
_____
_____
_____ Total
$2.00 Decals only
3rd Recon T-Shirts and sweaters. Various styles and sizes. Call Marshall for specifics before ordering. Large and XL $15.00, XXL $16.00
3rd Recon (Battalion & Company) Battalion, Navy Corpsman and Company patches are in stock - embroidered full color shoulder patches.
Approx sizes 4” x 4”, $5.00 each.
3rd Recon Playing Cards w/ Plastic Case $10.00
3 Recon Long Sleeve Blue Denim Shirt w/ Shield over pocket
Med to Large $32.00; Xlarge $34.00; 2Xlarge $36.00
rd
USMC Bomber Style Leather Jacket
Soft High Grade Leather * Detailed Embroidered The US Marines Corps Logo
Snap Cuffs * Elastic Waist * Inside Zipper Pocket *Bomber Style Jacket
Limited Edition Sizes M. to XL. Or 38 to 46 “
$85.00 plus $15.00 Shipping
8
Black Sweat Shirts
3rd Recon Long Sleeve
Med to Large
$22.00
2Xlarge
$24.00
Recon Marine
Approaching the autumn of my life, I have had
the opportunity to reflect back on 63 years of
commissioned service. (I just turned 83!) As a
trial attorney for the past 36 years following
retirement from the Marine Corps, I have seen
people in a number of professions(law, medicine,
corporations, and the academe) where I have
observed the positive impact of mentoring on
their respective careers. This caused me to pause
and look back at the tremendous impact that
certain Marine officers had in my 28-year career.
These memories span my days as a lieutenant in
World War II (WWII) and commanding a rifle
company in combat during the Korean War; 3
years at Test Unit One as a major doing
experimental assignments; becoming the first
Commanding Officer, Force Reconnaissance
Company (with many of the new techniques for
entry and egress learned under “Chesty” Puller);
my infantry battalion days, first as an S–3
(operations) in Southeast Asia and later as a
battalion commander in the Mediterranean;
capped with my command of the 26th Marine
Regiment at Khe Sanh and beyond.
Dead” (1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9)).
For those of us who have been tried in combat
(particularly when we are wounded), we try to
share advice and wisdom from our survival and
actions of our units with other Marines around us.
This is how it is and how it should be. During
WWII (serving as a combat swimming platoon
commander); during Korea as a company
commander; in the Mediterranean as Landing
Force Commander, Sixth Fleet; and in Vietnam
as a G–3, a Marine expeditionary force landing
force commander, and later as a regimental
commander, I tried to ensure that my staff and I
would share our expertise with the newer or less
experienced Marines in the unit.
Things change, and advice must change with the
situation, environment, or event. As an example,
when I wrote my grandson I normally would
have given my usual “stay off the skyline” and
“always check your six” cautions that stood me
pretty well in two wars of active combat. However, Iraq and Afghanistan gave me a bit more.
He tore up the prior poor report and wrote one
reflecting our efforts and success. The lesson
learned from this mentor was to never rely
completely on someone else’s opinion on reports.
If you see it is wrong, correct it on the spot when
possible. For the rest of my career I remembered
this Medal of Honor winner and his attention to
fairness and getting down with the troops.
After my tour of combat as a company
commander in 1951, I returned stateside and was
placed as Officer in Charge, Reconnaissance
School, Coronado, CA. I became Chesty Puller’s
“recon officer.” Chesty was not always very
talkative, but I would question him about some of
his experiences in Nicaragua and Haiti.
He was always willing to share. After permitting
me to go through underwater demolition team
dive school, Navy parachute training, survival
schools, and to operate off submarines, as my
mentor he listened to some of my “new ideas” for
recon within the Marine Corps. Convinced (as I
was), he had me write a letter with these ideas to
Reading between the lines, our Marines of today our thenCommandant, Gen Lemuel C. Shepherd,
operating in urban environments added a new one Jr. This led to my being assigned to the Advanced
for this war: “Have increased awareness and
Infantry Course at Fort Benning, GA, with the
caution if you do not see dogs on the street while Army and later to duty with Test Unit One at
on patrol in urban areas!” Why? Iraqi children are Camp Pendleton where, as a major, I formed the
Webster defines “mentor” as a friend, advisor,
pretty smart. When they know something is going first force reconnaissance company in our Corps.
and/or teacher. In looking back, as any of us as
to come down (such as emplacement of an
Chesty had been a student at Fort Benning in
officers and noncommissioned officers often do, I
improvised explosive device or ambush of an
1931. His instructors included (later WWII
found most of my seniors to be outstanding.
oncoming patrol), they bring their animals inside generals) George Catlett Marshall, Omar
Occasionally a few would surface that one would
their homes for their survival. Marines are now
Bradley, and Joe Stillwell.
not wish to emulate. No one told me, and I
aware of this, so along with other precautions,
probably gained the methodology through trial
when you don’t see dogs on the street, “Stand
As I was making my departing call, he offered
and error, but I began to unconsciously evaluate
by!”
some advice to me on my forthcoming days as a
my senior officers.
student at Fort Benning. I had anticipated a “do
My first mentor was my regimental commander
the best for our Corps” and “end up in the top 10
When I saw talent and intellect, I would try to
of Staging Regiment, Camp Pendleton in WWII. of the class” (I did). As I was listening carefully,
think how I might approach similar problems. I
I was spending most of my days on the beach
with a smile on his usually taciturn face, he
began to mentally “accept” the good ones and
running surf drills and survival skills for
advised, “Watch your money gambling; the
vow never to be like the one’s whom I perceived
deploying Marines (a majority of them aviators). Army will try to take it since it is from a
as less than desirable. You, as the reader, may
My immediate company commander (I was a
Marine!” I then realized that the most decorated
question the propriety of a junior evaluating a
young second lieutenant at the time) was a
Marine in our Corps did indeed also have a sense
senior. I never let my feelings or evaluations get
Mustang captain. I have had the privilege of
of humor! I did a smart about face and headed for
in the way of good order and discipline. I always
commanding and learning from a number of
Fort Benning with my thoughts of Chesty Puller
tried to give my seniors the 110 percent that they
Mustang officers who had been commissioned
some 30 years before.
expected. If I erred along the way, I accept full
from the ranks. I respect them very much, and if I
responsibility for my actions.
could, I would actively seek experienced
As a major, when commanding Force Recon, I
Mustangs for my commands.
tangentially had several contacts with then-retired
First, let me say that not all Marines who unCommandant Lem Shepherd. Weekends I used to
knowingly helped me become a better leader of
This particular WWII Mustang, however, for
dive for langouste off San Clemente or at Laguna
Marines were senior. Many of those I look back
whatever reason, concluded that my deep tan and with two good friends, Majs Dick Noble (later
on as mentors were younger, and many of these
long hours on the beach were somehow “fun,”
tragically killed in a helicopter accident on
were enlisted personnel of both middle and
and he wrote a very marginal fitness report so
Okinawa) and Bo Shepherd (both generals’ sons).
higher ranks. When one learns from another, rank
reflecting. I was called into Col Herman
Gen Shepherd knew of the developmental work
should have no priority of acceptance or
Hannekan’s office (himself a Mustang who was
that we were doing in Force Recon and always
rejection.
awarded the Medal of Honor in Haiti). He had
expressed high professional interest on the tactics
my poor fitness report in hand. As any
that we were actively developing. He was always
I am privileged, as many of you are, to receive eoutstanding commander, Herman Hannekan had encouraging us about these developments. This
mails from Iraq and Afghanistan that are chock
been out on the beach (unbeknownst to me)
gave us even more incentive to initiate
full of tips, advice, lessons learned, and the like. I
evaluating our training. He had talked to my
improvements in the state-of-the-art methods
find myself comparing many of these with my
Marine aviator students to whom we had taught
now used by Marine Special Operations
similar combat experiences as an 0302 infantry
surf survival. He told me that his personal
Command, Navy SEALS, Delta Force, and the
unit leader. I am impressed by the cogency and
observations did not agree with the Mustang
Army’s Green Berets.
writing of young officers with respect to their
captain.
Continued on page # 12
individual combat experiences. Our grandson is a
first lieutenant of Marines with the “Walking
Silver Star Continued from page # 1
Medal of Honor Award Program
The Marine was Sgt. Michael Ferschke, a team
leader with Co. A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion,
who entered the house earlier to engage the armed
insurgents. There were 10 insurgents in the building
who immediately opened fire.
For the past few years 12 students in 4 schools have
been awarded the Association’s Achievement
Award to honor the memory of the 3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion’s 4 Medal of Honor
Recipients. Three students are chosen from each
school; Kellogg, Middle School, Kellogg, Idaho for
Frank S Reasoner; Groton Middle School, Groton,
New York for Terrance C Graves; Robert H
Jenkins, Jr. Middle School, Palatka, Florida for
Robert Jenkins Jr.; and the Marine Military
Academy, Harlengen, Texas for Richard A “Tex”
Anderson.
Ferschke moved to the corner of the room, as he
was trained, to draw fire on himself. His actions
allowed the rest of his team to enter the room and
take down the insurgents, Blanton said.
Ferschke gave his life in the engagement, but his
actions spared the lives of his team, Blanton said.
"He sacrificed his life and did something way more
heroic than I did. I just capitalized on an
opportunity."
Lazzo, who was awarded a Bronze Star for his
actions in the same engagement, pulled Ferschke
from the building.
With Ferschke out of the building, Blanton
coordinated air support to take out the insurgent
stronghold with guided munitions ending the
engagement, according to the citation.
Near the end of May and early June the four schools
that participate in our 4 Medal of Honor Awards
will be having their respective 2009 promotion and
graduation ceremonies. Representatives of the
association have volunteered their time to attend the
ceremonies and award this year’s recipients their
framed certificates and $100.00 each.
If members of the association would like to attend
the award presentations at a particular school they
should contact the Association Representative for
that school.
The 3rd Recon Association’s Achievement Award
2009 representatives are.
Santos R Morales, Bravo Company 1968
passed away on April 11, 2009. Santos did a
number of patrols out of the Khe Sanh Combat
Base and was there during the 1968 siege.
This afternoon I spent some time with Holly
Woods, a VA nurse who tended to Santos at the VA
Hospital here in Pittsburgh... he had a liver/kidney
transplant over a year ago. She told me his body
started rejecting the transplanted organs a few
months ago and, try as they might, the VA was
unable to stop his immune system from rejecting the
transplants.
I asked her why he came here to Pittsburgh seeing
he was from Austin, TX and she informed me that
the VA Hospital Pittsburgh, PA and the VA
Hospital Richmond, VA are the only two VA
hospitals in the US that do double transplants.
Also, she informed me that the VA Hospital
Houston, TX and the VA Hospital Miami, FL will
be doing double transplants by next year. Holly
also informed me that the following VA hospitals
do only kidney transplants in the US: Portland, Or;
Nashville, TN; Des Moines, IA; Pittsburgh, PA
and Richmond, VA.
Had I known that a Brother was in the VA hospital
here I would have gone to see him. It seems we
only find out about our brothers when it’s to late.
Even after the engagement, there was still work to
be done. Blanton led the team that conducted the
battle damage assessment in the area of the
airstrikes, said Lazzo.
For the:
The platoon occupied the area for two more days,
giving the Marines time to gather their thoughts and
memories of the encounter.
Terrance Graves Award, Groton Middle School
contact Allen Salyerds phone 607-523-7776 EST
"I remember trying to put together a sequence of
events; to remember everything that happened,"
Blanton said, referring to his sleepless nights on
radio watch after the firefight.
Robert Jenkins, Jr Award, Robert Jenkins Jr. Middle
School contact Len Rapuano phone 727-368-4083
To the very end Santos was given the best treatment
EST
available in the attempt to save him. Holly told me
in his final hours he was surrounded by family and
Richard “Tex” Anderson Award, Marine Military
VA staff that showered him with love and respect.
Academy contact Wade Hudson phone 281-635-
The memories of the incident are like a photo
album, he said. Sitting down with his Marines after
the engagement was like flipping through those
photos. Blanton's album contained pictures from
different points in the engagement. When he
mentally looked at two photos from the battle, he
remembered the specific events perfectly, but what
happened in between those memories was blank, he
said.
Each member of the group remembered a different
aspect of the battle, and comparing their memories
let them better understand what happened.
Blanton's own recollection of the engagement
centers on the other members of his team: the
sergeant setting down suppressive fire from the
turret and the corporal laying into the insurgents
with a squad automatic weapon.
"Anyone of these guys," Blanton said while
gesturing to the Marines of 3rd Reconnaissance
Battalion Headquarters, "is capable of doing the
exact same thing I did. It's textbook: you shoot,
move, communicate."
Frank Reasoner Award, Kellogg Middle School
contact Butch Waddill phone 406-73-2709 MST
2867 CST
For those who attend, you will find yourselves
pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm of the
students, parents and faculty at the awarding of the
Achievement Awards and the caliber of those
selected to receive the honor.
Treasurer’s Report: Continued from page 1
Brothers please support our PX as it is another
source of revenue for the Association and the
manager Marshall Johnson is eager to supply you
with your needs.
I hope all of you are able to attend the next reunion
in Deadwood/Lead, South Dakota as our reunion
chairman Hollis Stabler is in the process of putting
together another great reunion, along with Darlene
Schneider, Marshall Johnson and others.
Holly told me how the VA goes all out to support
the families of Vets who are going through these
operations including paying the air fare, all
transportation costs and housing while they are at
the VA hospitals while the veteran is awaiting the
transplants. She said there are a number of
Veterans going through this procedure…
We are all fortunate to have a VA system as we do.
Rest in peace Santos.
John “ Doc” Winters
Presidents Message from page # 1
I’ve had a lot of support from the Association
Officers, and I’ve enjoyed my role, but it’s not too
early to tell you I don’t intent to run for re-election
in 2010. We need some people to stand up and take
on the next tour
Recently, I got to meet with General Peter Pace for
about three hours here in Tuson. I didn’t pass up
the opportunity to give him a 3rd Recon T-shirt. It
was the one with the names of our KIA’s on the
back that we sold at the October 2008 Kissimmee
Reunion. He was impressed. He gave me one of
his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff coins. I
also talked to him about our Association. We’ve
added his name to the association mailing roster so
he can receive complementary “Harborsites” in the
future.
In closing,a hand salute to all of you who have done
so much and continue to do so.
I hope you and yours are well. I wish you good
Semper Fi
heath, and good memories.
John "Doc" Winters, Association Treasurer
Semper Fi Bill Stussie
10
Field Sanitation
By Harry Hooper
and we would answer with a short blast from the
M-60. If we were feeling particularly surly, or if
a round holed our tin roof, we would reply with a
106 HEAT round.
running room for a dog for an entire lifetime but
it probably beat becoming rotisserie dog.
One of the problems with eight Marines on a
small piece of real estate was that of field
In mid-September of 1966 I was ordered to an
sanitation. This had been temporarily solved by
It did occur to me that my military career would
observation post called Crow's Nest. It was on
placing a 106 ammo box, with an appropriate
be in serious jeopardy if some enterprising VC
top of Marble Mountain south of the airstrip at
hole cut into it, over a shaft in the limestone
got to the top, swung the 106 to the north, and
Da Nang. It was the mission of the Crow's Nest
which was at least 12 to 15 feet straight down. It
proceeded to blast away at important people's
observation post to protect the airstrip, and to
command posts and trailers. Consequently, every seemed to angle off to the side after that and we
keep the Viet Cong from damaging the airsuspected that it continued deep into the
time we heard any strange sounds from the side
conditioned trailers of the aviators, and the nice
mountain. When relieving oneself of C-rats
of the mountain we tossed grenades at them.
barracks of their support troops, by firing rockets
washed down with beer, the alimentary canal
or mortars at them. The aircraft were a concern
produced a product which resounded with a
Days were spent eating, drinking beer, smoking
also. The mission was to be accomplished by
satisfying splat as it bottomed into the abyss of
cigarettes, and listening to a tape player which
raining artillery fire onto the heads of any VC
had a single Beatles tape. The album was called the pit.
who had the temerity to attack the big base and
"Revolver" and Eleanor Rigby was the featured
the Marine air base which was north and east of
In time, the OP, especially at night, became
song, or at least the only one I remember. We
the mountain.
redolent of sewage. As a highly trained second
must have heard it a thousand times. After
lieutenant, having been a recent graduate of The
enough beer I would actually began to worry
Marble Mountain was actually several spindly
Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, I resolved to
about Eleanor's plight.
shafts of rock. The highest one rose 105 meters
solve this. Someone could have become ill as a
straight out of the sand just west of the South
result of this situation, or at least gag.
On a typical day we would watch air traffic
China Sea and it was upon this rock that the
Accordingly, I contacted the S-4 on the radio and
circling and landing at Da Nang. One day we
Crow's Nest sat. The mountain was mostly made saw a B-52 make an unsuccessful emergency
requested gasoline so that the offending matter
of marble except that the marble became karst at landing. Crow's Nest must have been at least ten could be incinerated. In due time the supply
the higher elevations. The entire mountain was
miles from the airfield but nevertheless, when the helicopter arrived with its cargo net and with it,
full of caves and tunnels. Most of them were too wind was favorable, it was possible to hear Cfour jerry cans of diesel fuel.
small for a man to enter. I think if it had been
130's revving up. At night we would watch F-4's
possible to saw it in half it would look like a
It may have been a product of our boredom or the
and F-105's scream overhead with their afterplank eaten by termites.
burners flaring. One night we saw an F-4 get hit excitement of having something new to
accomplish, but in any event, as soon as the cans
by an errant 105 millimeter illumination round
At the summit was an area which was 20 feet at
were unloaded, we removed the ammo box and
and watched in amazement as the pilots
its widest and in length, it was perhaps 150 feet.
parachuted from the plane. More astonishingly, a poured twenty gallons of diesel fuel into the pit.
This was occupied by a wooden platform upon
little Kaman helicopter was there to pick them up With great anticipation we threw a match into the
which was emplaced a 106 millimeter recoilless
pit. Nothing. Then we lit a pack of matches and
almost as soon as they hit the ground.
rifle. The plan was that anytime the wily Cong
tossed it into the odoriferous hole. Nothing.
fired rockets at the airstrip, they would be enThen we lit a large splinter from an ammo box
When vehicles traveled the MSR heading south,
gaged immediately by the 106 while the FO, me, to what was then the 1 st Battalion, 1st Marines
and tossed it into the maw. It made a nice little
would send a fire mission to my artillery battalion CP, we would watch closely for snipers shooting fire for a while but the diesel didn't catch. Next
which would blast the offending VC into rubble. at them. Occasionally we would see a small
came an illumination grenade. The pit remained
Since the VC only fired rockets at night, and
firefight between the Marines in the vehicles and as fireless as a tenderfoot with flint and steel.
usually moonless nights, exactly how we were to the VC. The 106 gunners, who were truly crack That is when we learned that diesel doesn't burn,
accomplish this was never revealed to me.
shots, would fire at the snipers, undoubtedly
at least, it didn't on Crow's Nest. Our
scaring the Bejesus out of the truckers, and
disappointment was palpable.
Life on Crow's Nest was not unpleasant. There
perhaps erasing a few VC.
were eight of us up there. There was the 106
This failure resulted in a radio call to the air
crew, a couple of machine gunners manning a
The 106 had a .50 caliber rifle on top of the
officer requesting gasoline. We were informed
single M 60, my trusty radio operator, Lance
weapon. This was called the minor caliber. The that the pilots thought gasoline to be unsafe cargo
Corporal Papkin, and my wireman, PFC Clapp.
106 itself, was called the major caliber. The
when put in a cargo net which had to be
Once a week a CH-34 helicopter would appear
gunner, when he found the target with the minor deposited on a narrow rock ledge. If the gasoline
slinging beneath it a cargo net containing C-rats, caliber, would yell, "fire the major caliber." The can collided with the rock, the whole helicopter
beer, and cigarettes. Prior lifts had delivered
explosion from the recoilless rifle was like the
would erupt in flame, or so I was told. It was
timber and corrugated tin which had been used to crack of doom. The difference between the
suggested that we should climb down the
construct a comfortable hooch.
minor caliber and the major caliber was like the
mountain, walk to the CP, strap a five gallon can
difference between a hand grenade explosion and of gasoline on a pack frame, and manhandle it up
We had all of the comforts of home and unlike
the atom bomb.
the mountain. This suggestion, it should be
home, we could wake up mornings to a splendid
noted, came from the air officer.
view of the South China Sea and enjoy
We also had a dog which provided some
Continued on page # 14
spectacular sunsets over the Annamese
entertainment. The dog was named Boom Boom,
“They shall grow not old,
Mountains. Moreover, we felt safe. The climb to either out of respect for the 106 or after
as we that are left grow old;
the top of Crow's Nest was quite difficult and
entertainment of the same name which was
Age shall not weary them
entailed shinnying up a hawser for part of the
available for a few Piasters from one of the
way. At night we would pull the hawser to the
nor the years condemn.
professional women who plied their trade in the
top and we felt pretty sure that no VC could get
village of Nui Kim Son. It was a nice little dog
At the going down of the sun
to us, at least not without working up a
and probably lived its entire life on top of Crow's
and in the morning.
substantial sweat. Occasionally, at dusk, a sniper Nest since I am sure the OP was occupied by
We
will remember them”
would crank off a round or two in our direction
U.S. troops until the pullout. That is not a lot of
11
Shufly Marine: Continued from page 2
According to a 1970 Sports Illustrated article,
Mac’s amateur record was an impressive 20 wins,
17 of which were KO’s, with only one loss.
Mac’s pro career likewise got off to a blazing
start. He won his first 24 professional fights by
knockout, but Mac’s winning streak would soon
come to a screeching halt when he fought
heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry at the fabled
Madison Square Garden on June 17, 1970.
Despite the fact that Mac went into the fight a 6-1
favorite, Quarry handed Mac the first loss of his
pro career, and his only knock out in the sixth
round of a scheduled ten round bout.
3rd Recon Association Scholarship
Fund The Executive Committee is looking to
Recon Marine Continued from page # 9
I served under Gen David M. Shoup (Medal of
Honor recipient for his actions at Tarawa in
WWII) several times. Force Recon was attached
to Gen Shoup’s 1st Marine Division, and later in
the Philippines, I served as the landing force
commander. Later, as Commandant, Shoup
granted me permission to take 30 days leave from
1/9 on Okinawa to actively patrol with the
Gurkhas in Malaya in the British 11-year
campaign against the Communist terrorists. The
leave was granted with a caveat—upon my return
The amount may change depending upon the
from these jungle patrols he asked (directed) that
support the association receives through the
generous donations of members to fund the many I speak to other Marines on the lessons learned
After four more wins, all by knock out, Mac was association’s programs and activities.
from the Brits and the Gurkhas (which I did,
ready to take on former heavyweight champion
including briefing Gen Shoup and the
Muhammad Ali. Having been stripped of his title Governing Rules for operations of the Third
Headquarters Marine Corps staff).
by boxing authorities as a result of his failure to
Recon Association Scholarship Fund:
comply with Selective Service requirements
Our last major Marine Corps jungle experience
based on his opposition to the Vietnam War, Ali The purpose of the 3rd Recon Association
under triple canopy had been in the Solomons at
was on a quest to reclaim the Heavyweight
Scholarship Fund, (3rdRASF), will be to provide Guadalcanal and Bougainville. This,
Championship. The match was held in Tokyo,
interestingly, later led to the selection of my
financial aid to post-high school students who
April 1, 1972, and was broadcast around the
regiment to operate southwest of Da Nang out
plan to attend an accredited institution as a full
world on closed circuit TV. Mac went the
toward the Lao border under triple canopy. My
time student or who will be enrolled full time in
distance (15 rounds) against the ex-champ, but
division commander, then-MajGen Donn J.
an accredited curriculum following high school
Ali out fought Mac wining a unanimous decision. graduation.
Robertson, called me into his command post and
(A video of Mac’s fight with Ali can be found on
advised me that he had read my article in the
the Internet)
Marine Corps Gazette on triple canopy jungle
Scholarships will be awarded to student
operations. “You are the only regimental
applicants who are direct descendants of 3rd
Mac continued boxing until 1976, but never
commander here [in Vietnam] who has operated
Recon Battalion members who served in the
returned to his early form, ending his pro career
in combat in triple canopy. I am going to use
Republic of Vietnam during the years 1961 to
with a record of 30 wins, all by knockouts, and 6 1971 and includes direct descendants of battalion your regiment out toward the Lao border.”
losses. He now makes his home in Madera
members listed as KIA in Vietnam and those who
California, not far from where he grew up, and
Looking back, I consider Gen Shoup and LtGen
have died since their service in Vietnam. (To
enjoys getting together with Marine buddies he
Robertson mentors of a kind that recognized the
include students who are under legal
served with in Vietnam at various reunions.
initiative embraced in my unusual request to take
guardianship or adopted by members or direct
leave to go to the only war going on at the time in
descendants of battalion members.)
Southeast Asia to patrol with the Commonwealth
Brigade of 17th Gurkha. Many of my peers felt
Selection for awarding of the financial aid
scholarships will focus on the following qualities: that I was not using good judgment to use leave
in this way. They were wrong. It initiated my
good grades, Character, Citizenship, leadership
writing articles for the Gazette and later two
potential, and financial need. A point selection
system will be used in the case of more then one books on recon. Even today there is a book
applicant. Examples of these mentioned qualities published in Australia, written by one of New
Zealand’s Malaya veterans, that includes an
could be in the classroom, in extracurricular
activities or service to the community, church or entire chapter on my comparison of Marine
jungle tactics and equipment to those used by the
nation.
Gurkha Division in then-Malaya. (It later was
changed to Malaysia.)
A Scholarship Fund Review Committee will be
appointed to serve the President of the 3rd Recon
In conclusion, I gained professionally from my
Kissimmee Reunion Oct 2008
Association and will accept, review and grade
Mac Foster (center) flanked by Neil Grissiom
mentors throughout our Corps. I was blessed with
each correctly completed application. The
(left) and John Gariano (right) during the
committee will decide which student applicant(s) good advice, guidance, and opportunity that
Association business meeting. All served with
would not have been possible without the benefit
will receive the financial aid. The selected
Charlie Company 1963 supporting Shufly
student(s) will be notified, by letter, on or before that these mentors gave. I shall always be
operations in the Republic of Vietnam.
grateful. My advice to those of you on active duty
June 30th of a given year.
today is to take advantage of the lore, the
leadership, and the guidance that you will gain in
This is a proposal. To make it happen we need
Saepe Expertus
mentoring under your fellow Marines.
your input on this important matter to include
Semper Fidelis
your ideas of additional fund raising activities.
Col Meyers is a 28-year veteran of the Marine
Contact the Executive Committee, using the
Corps and served in three wars—WWII, Korea,
Fratres Aeterni
return mailing address of this newsletter, and let
and Vietnam. He currently resides in Issaquah,
"Often Tested,
your opinion be heard.
WA.
Always Faithful,
From the Khe Sanh web site, forwarded by
Lets show our support for the descendants of our Leland Upshaw, Bravo Company 1968
Brothers Forever"
brothers
establish a scholarship fund to start on the
2010/2011 school calendar year. This would
provide a scholarship of $1,200 per school year
to one student applicant who qualifies, $600.00
per year for two students, $400.00 per year for
three students or $300.00 per year for four
students. A maximum of up to 4 awards will be
awarded each year. A new application will be
required for each year applied.
12
3rd Recon Association
March 27, 2009
From: John J “Doc” Winters, Treasurer
PO Box 38422
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: 412-781-0388
To:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
The 3rd Recon Association donates $300.00 to the Society in memory of our following brothers
who died, or we had notification of their passing, this past year.
Miller W. Scott
Edmond K. Gross
Roger J. Picou
Dean L. Alwardt
William D. “Doug” Leigh
Robert Joseph Statzer
Gerald A. Boll
Felix Rael
Dale Sare
Edward V. Badolat
Henry C “Clay” Yarber
Gary F. Marte
While serving in the Republic of Vietnam, the Marines and Corpsmen of the 3rd Reconnaissance
Battalion repeatedly penetrated North Vietnamese and Vietcong sanctuaries by foot and by
helicopter to find enemy forces, learn the enemy's intentions, and, when possible, bring deadly
fire down on his head. Heavily armed, well-camouflaged teams of six and eight men daily
exposed themselves to overwhelming enemy forces so that other Marines would have the
information necessary to fight the war.
The battalion was the highest decorated unit of its size to serve in Vietnam. Including battle stars,
men in the battalion were awarded 4 Medals of Honor, 13 Navy crosses, 72 Silver Stars and an
unknown number of Bronze Stars. The battalion lost 225 men KIA and approximately 40
percent of the men received at least one Purple Heart for wounds.
The 3rd Recon Association was formed in 1989 through the efforts of a small group of former 3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion Marines and Navy Corpsmen who served together in the Republic of
Vietnam. It has grown to include more than seventeen hundred retired and former Marines and
Navy Corpsmen who served with or were attached to the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in
Vietnam from 1961 through 1971. Included among those numbers are our associate members,
(family members of Reconners who died during or since their service in Vietnam.).
As voted on by the 3rd Recon Association Executive Committee and directed by it’s President,
William Stussie, the Association will make a donation to honor our brothers who have died in the
proceeding year on November 10th of each year for an indefinite time. At this time we are a lastman-standing organization.
John J “Doc” Winters, Treasurer
3rd Recon Association
13
Eternal Father, grant, we pray,
To all Reconners, night and day.
Protect them on the mountain steep,
Keep them hid in valley deep.
From weapon, tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso’er they go.
Links to about 10,000+ USMC RVN
documents. All documents are online via
the Virtual Vietnam Archive, just hard to
find through their interface.
http://www.geocities.com/rbackstr2000/rvn/
rvn
Early History - Cont from page # 6
In early September 1963 the platoon’s fast
reaction force was again called into action
to provide force protection for a UH-34D
that landed in a farmer’s peanut field about
40 miles south of Da Nang due to
mechanical problems. For security, the
platoon set up a perimeter around the
downed helicopter and dug-in for the night
as the area was heavily controlled by the
Viet Cong. Mechanics planned to repair the
UH-34D the next day and have the crew fly
it back to Da Nang. Before the sunset that
evening, black dots that were Viet Cong
would occasionally appear under trees in
three separate locations on the jungle
mountain slope across the river from the
peanut field where the helicopter had made
the emergency landing. While gun fire was
occasionally heard during the night, there
were no serious probes of the perimeter.
The helicopter was quickly repaired the next
day and flown back to Da Nang.
In late September 1963 a decision was made
to begin rotating members of the platoon
back to Okinawa. Apparently it was
decided that larger forces were needed to
combat an upswing in enemy activity.
Marines from the platoon viewed Da Nang
as “good duty’’ as it gave them a chance to
apply their training to actual combat zone
conditions.
Neil Grissom, Charlie Company 1963
Requests for help
Barb Dewey is looking for anyone that
served with Walter J. “Ski” Jankowski,
Delta 1966, who was KIA in October of that
year. Her family has so many unanswered
questions about how Walter died. Walter
served with Con R Dotson, Delta 66, who
passed away in 2005.
Walter was her uncle she never met. She
wasn’t born until 1972.
If you have any information contact:
Barbara Dewey
6944 Dion Road
Federalsburg, MD 21632
Phone 717-773-0537
narleyharleygirl@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 11:19 AM
Subject: Cpl Robert J. Statzer
My nephew Robert Joseph Statzer was
killed in December 2008 in a weird
accident. His brother, Michael, is trying to
make contact with some of his fellow
Marines. Bobby served with Bravo
Company 3rd Recon in 1969, he was a radio
operator. Any help you can provide or
suggestion in searching will be greatly
appreciated.
Contact Michael “Mick” Statzer
Phone: 765-778-8270
Address: 776 N Pendleton Ave
Pendleton, IN 46064Or e-mail: mspark53@aol.com or e-mail
mv-rjstatzer@verizon.net
Bud Statzer USMC Ret
Delta Company,
3rd Recon Landing/Raid in Vietnam, 1965.
Parker Ralston, Delta, 3rd Recon, is
searching for anyone having served with or
having knowledge of the initial landing of
Delta Company, 3rd Recon under the
leadership of Capt. Patrick "Patty" Collins,
at Red Beach, Da Nang, Vietnam in March
1965 and their subsequent raid by rubber
boats on an island off the Da Nang coast.
This raid was covered in a "Stars & Stripes"
article shortly thereafter with the header
"Marine Raiders Return." Parker can be
contacted at 816-635-4009 central time.
Odis Lewis, Delta & H & S Co’s 1969
I was remiss when I was in the service. I
did not make a list of the Marines that I met
while on active duty. Usually a person used
a nick name or a first name and once there
was separation from that unit, or the service,
even that was forgotten. I find myself
wondering more and more about where,
what, and how those Marines and Corpsmen
are doing.
Please contact: Odis Lewis
631 Haven St. Forrest City, AR 72335
Or send email to: siwelo@sbcglobal.net
right away they contained gasoline because
the pilot flipped me a bird right before he
chopped back to the Marble Mountain
Airstrip. I don't know how battalion got it
done but, in any event, we were in business.
Into the abyss went twenty-five gallons of
gasoline which mingled with the diesel
which had pooled there from the previous
week's effort. It was late afternoon. The
sea breeze wafted in from the South China
Sea, rustling the hairs on our heads which
were already tingling with excitement. I
delivered a safety lecture of sorts on the
explosive tendencies of gasoline and
suggested that we ignite the gas with an
illumination grenade tossed from a safe
distance.
A volunteer agreed to do the deed and
pulled the pin from the grenade. We
watched over his shoulder as he tossed the
device into the pit with precision. For a
moment, there was silence. Then the
mountain began to shudder and then to
vibrate and then a loud roar split the silence
of the afternoon. Flame burst from the
mouth of the pit like a mighty tongue, and
to our astonishment, additional blasts roared
from the sides of the mountain like
fumaroles on the cone of an erupting
volcano. It in fact was Vesuvius, Krakatoa,
and Pinatubo, rolled into one.
We marveled at the magnitude of our work.
The radio crackled to life immediately. It
was battalion headquarters, located in the
flatlands some three miles away, excitingly
inquiring as to the nature of the calamity.
Flame and smoke, they stated, were coming
everywhere from the mountain. They
demanded information as to the cause. We
were safe, we reported. We were just
conducting routine field sanitation.
In time the holocaust subsided to a mere
roar. The air smelled of burning petroleum
products. By dusk the fire was out and the
opening once more sported the ammunition
box with the hole in it, the box which was
so supportive of our daily life on the OP.
Sanitation Continued from page # 11
The situation was becoming one of those
righteous welfare of the troops issues and
with all of the indignation that could be
mustered by a second lieutenant, I suggested
that this was a matter which should be
kicked upstairs. Eventually, the battalion
executive officer came up on the net and we
had a serious discussion about field
sanitation and the lack of an infantry
battalion commander's power to order
Marine aviators to do anything. The next
week the cargo helicopter arrived and in the
big net I spotted five jerry cans. I knew
14
I never had the need to conduct field
sanitation on Crow's Nest again. Shortly
after this event, I rejoined my rifle company
and became engaged in more serious
business.
Thirty-four years have passed since that day
and I still think of the Crow's Nest every
time I hear the Beatles wailing about
Eleanor Rigby. It's the nearest thing to a
flashback I've ever had.
Forwarded by Lance Zellers
Reunions
2009 Delta Company Reunion
LZ Bluegrass - Louisville, Kentucky starting
Wednesday June 24, 2009 and ending Sunday,
June 28, 2009. As usual Reconners from all
other companies are welcome to attend.
Harborsite – The Galt House
140 North Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502-589-5200
E-mail: info@galthouse.com
http://www.galthouse.com/default.aspx
Saturday Evening: Banquet/Cruise on the Belle
of Louisville.
Schedule of events:
Wednesday - Check In/Hospitality Room
Thursday - A Day on the River (Pontoon Boat
Rental) with a few personal boats
Friday - Churchhill Downs
http://www.churchilldowns.com/
Saturday – Business Meeting Golf/Free Day
Saturday Eve - Banquet/Cruise Belle of
Louisville: http://belleoflouisville.org/
Sunday - Checkout
Contact Info:Steve "Shortround" Shircliff
812-987-7595
812-952-1700
shortround68@msn.com
LZ Bluegrass Information
As the 2009 Delta Co Reunion Chairman, I am
pleased to announce the confirmation and
schedule of events concerning this summers
reunion. It is a pleasure to once again bring
together the greatest BAND of BROTHERS
ever assembled. For those that were fortunate
enough to make the BN reunion in 2004, you
know exactly the wonderful time that we all
shared here in Louisville. We are again
committed to bringing all of you, four fun filled
days of camaraderie & enough memories to last
a lifetime.
We were a little late getting the OK to put this
together but rest assured we have left the
briefing room and are ready to execute the
patrol order..
LZ Bluegrass is open to ALL members,
families & friends. We already have several
commitments from members of other various
companies and we ask that you please help
spread the word to your teammates and get them
on board.
Thanks for your attention. S/F Shortround
REUNION AGENDA: Dates: June 24th / 27th
GALT HOUSE HOTEL & SUITES
Wednesday: Usual Check In. Meet, greet
and relax in the best damn hospitality room in
the south.
Thursday: Enjoy a day on the OHIO RIVER.
Boating, drinks, eats, sun and fun.
We are going to rent Pontoons and have extra
private boats available. Also, bring your
trunks, bikinis and sandals. DRINKS/SNACKS
PROVIDED.
Friday: Day at the Downs. A trip to the worlds
most famous race track, CHURCHILL
DOWNS. Planning to have a race dedicated to
Delta Co 3rd Recon Bn.
Saturday: Company meeting. Golf afterwards
for those interested. Free time all day.
COST: $100 per person. Registration Deadline
May 15, 2009
Room rates should be confirmed by Mar.15
Any and all remaining information will be
posted on the Reunion Web Page.
http://www.3rdreconfewproud.com/reunion09.h
tm
Mail Check to:
Steve Shircliff
4252 Hwy 11
Lanesville, IN 47136
Owens). Joel Gardner was there also and lives
in the DC area, so he may come.
FRA puts on a good reunion, including a great
banquet in the Museum. FRA has active
Marines running it along with Marine veterans.
They hold an auction to raise money for their
scholarship fund. We met Wesley Fox at the
Charleston reunion. At the business meeting
that Rudy, Doug, and I attended in 2006, we
met some original Amphibious Recon Marines,
one of whom was with Jim Jones’ father on the
submarine that tackled Apamama Atoll.
Our focus will be on Phu Bai Marines, 1965-66.
We plan to stay at the Crossroads Inn,
participate in FRA events, and party in the
hospitality suite set up by Rudy the Organizer.
Keith “Hud” Huddleston
2009 Alpha Company Reunion
3rd Marine Division Association
55th Annual Reunion
El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel
110 Lexington Ave
San Antonio, Texas 78205-1313
800-288-3927 or 210-223-9461
August 25 to 30, 2009
http://www.caltrap.org/Reunion/directory.asp
Khe Sanh Veterans
21st Annual Reunion
July 19 – 26, 2009
Denver, CO
Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel
4900 S. Syracuse St
Denver, CO 80239
http://www.khesanh.org/
"Operation Duluth, MN 2009" Thursday,
August 13th through Sunday, August 16th
“Operation Duluth” is open to all Marines,
Families, and Friends
Please join us in the celebration of our 12th
Reunion gathering of Marines in Duluth,
Minnesota. A great deal of planning has gone
into the planning of this event and we are
pleased announce our reunion gathering will be
held at the Comfort Suites Hotel 408 Canal
Park Dr. , Duluth, MN, US, 55802 (218) 7271378
Members from Charlie Company are using FRA
reunion as a rally point for a reunion of Phu Bai
Marines 1965-66: Barry Colassard, Rudy
Fontane, Doug Heath, Joe Haire, Frank Homan,
Dan Leary, Jack Brantley, Harold Steur, Larry
Otoole, Jerry Shea, Garner Bailey, Jr., Dennis
Vogel, Michael Brooks, Bob Alsip, Dutch
Strele, Marvin Freidman, Art Thorsen, etc.
We have selected this location because it is in
close proximity to a memorial where “Team
Striker” is united in spirit. The memorial is
located on York Island, one of the Apostle
Islands, which have been designated a National
Park in Lake Superior. This Island has a
memorial dedicated to Merl Allen and Team
Striker.
Tentative Schedule of Events:
Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 – Reception
1700 to 2000 (Meeting Room)
Friday, Aug 14, 2009 Two (2) Options
1. 0800 Bus/Boat trip to York Island for the
solemn dedication of Team Striker.
2. Free time to visit Duluth
Saturday, Aug 15, 2009 Alpha Recon
Association Meeting – 0800 to 1000
Saturday Banquet, Reunion Dinner on Lake
Superior aboard the Vista Star Contacts:
Jeff Savelkoul, Chairman (763) 434-0907 CST
Don Schwinn, Treasurer (858) 486-4391 PST
for info: www.alphareconassociation.org
Registration fees of $80.00 covers Dinner
Cruise and miscellaneous expenses.
Registration by mail: Deadline 1 July 2009
Force Recon types were also there at Phu Bai
(Dave Grannis, Bill Henderson, Andy Beeler,
Dwayne Colby) along with B Company that our
platoon became attached to (Jack Cassidy, Sam
Reno, Nevada, 7-11 July 2010
http://www.popasmoke.com/reunions/
Force Recon Association
Recon 2009
September 9 to 12, 2009
Quantico, Virginia
Hotel - The Crossroads Inn, 3018 Russell
Road, Quantico, VA
703-630-4444 for reservations. Use
confirmation code 1465
The FRA is not reserving blocks of rooms this
year. Make your reservations early!
Recon 2009 Banquet
– Saturday September 12, 2009
National Museum of the Marine Corps
http://www.forcerecon.com/
Phu Bai 1965-1966 Reunion
15
POPASMOKE
NONPROFIT ORG
U S POSTAGE PAID
ST PETERSBURG, FL
PERMIT # 677
3rd Recon Association
7403 46th Ave N #150
St. Petersburg, FL 33709-2516
Address Service Requested.
Call a Recon Brother
TODAY!!!
* CHU LAI * DA NANG * PHU BAI * QUANG TRI * DONG HA * CO BI-THANH TAN * KHE SANH *
* THE HILL FIGHTS-881N/881S * FSB ARGONNE * CAM LO * THE DMZ * CON THIEN * OP BA NA *
* HELICOPTER VALLEY * LEATHERNECK SQUARE * THE ROCKPILE * HUE * THE RAZORBACK *
* CHARLIE RIDGE * MUTTERS RIDGE * A SHAU VALLEY * THE DMZ * THE BACKYARD *
*ELEPHANT VALLEY * HILL 327 * CAMP REASONER * CAMP CARROLL *
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni
"Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever"
"Poor is the nation that has no Heroes, Shameful is the one that having them, forgets"
A reinforced platoon of 47 men from Charlie
Company was sent to Da Nang, Vietnam in April
1963 to provide security for Shufly Operations and
acted as their Chicken Hawk and Eagle fast reaction
forces in and around the Da Nang AO. Story on page
# 6.
Left photo: Unknown Charlie Co. Marines with (L)
Thompson Submachine Gun, ( R) 45 Cal. grease gun.
Right Photo: Neil Grissom in canvas type
camouflaged utilities and carrying a Swedish K 9mm
submachine gun (Carl Gustav M/45)
The platoons TO weapons were M-14’s with selectors.
However they had with them 6 Swedish K’s, a similar
number of grease guns, 2 Thompson Submachine Guns
and a M-60 Machine Gun. In addition, several members
also carried their own personal side arms. Wade
Hudson, not pictured, was one; he carried a long barreled
357 Magnum Revolver.
Left photo: (L) Sgt Edwards, recommended for a
Bronze Star w/ combat “V” and two unknown Marines.
Right photo: Field staging of South Vietnamesse Troops
prior to their operations against Viet Cong Forces